Latest projection is $7 million higher than earlier estimates
BY KARISSA MILLER
Iredell-Statesville Schools officials are estimating the district will need an additional $7 million or more to add athletics at the new Weathers Creek High School.
I-SS Chief Operations Officer Mark Shinkaruk provided an update on the $130 million project during last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
The original plan for athletic facilities included a cost estimate of $28 million. Estimates are now closer to $35 million.
In 2024, the school board approved a two-phase approach for the new school due to rising costs of construction materials and labor. The first phase includes building the new high school, which is slated to open in the fall of 2027. The second phase, which includes athletic stadiums and fields, will not be built until the district secures funding for it.
Shinkaruk mentioned that there is the potential for some cost savings by having the same general contractor handle all of the work. The project was awarded to Montieth Construction, which he said has an interest in constructing the athletics facilities, he added.
“If included,” he continued, “bidding must begin in one year to meet an August 2027 opening because of long lead times for bleachers and lights.”
Construction of the athletics facilities will take eight to 10 months.
The other option, Shinkaruk said, is rebidding the project.
“If we are opening without onsite athletics, then we are going to have to determine what that is going to look like for our students that attend Weathers Creek,” Shinkaruk told the board.
All of the options will come with challenges, he added.
“One option is to have students wear Falcons jerseys and practice and play at another school site,” he said.
However, Shinkaruk explained that it would be challenging because Lake Norman and South Iredell high schools, the closest I-SS high schools, are busy year round with their own sports.
The other option is students wouldn’t play sports for Weathers Creek. Instead, they would play for another district school.
“I just thought it would be important to put these things in front of you so you can start thinking about those. With your direction, we can start looking at those options,” Shinkaruk said.
Cost Breakdown
• $130 million “all in” funding received from the county, which includes proceeds from a voter approved bond sale and additional funds from the Iredell County Board of Commissioners.
• $114 million — construction costs
• $7 million — design
• $3 million — Contingency (less than 3 percent)
• $6 million — FF&E, Testing, Technology Equipment, etc.
Background
The construction of the new high school has been a controversial project for many years now. The school board has been criticized for moving slowly on the project after voters approved an $80 bond referendum for the new high school in March of 2020.
Delays have driven cost estimates as high as $200 million.
In addition to the $80 million approved by voters, Iredell County commissioners agreed in 2024 to borrow another $40 million and provide $10 million from the county’s fund balance.
As a result, the school board faced a significant shortfall and opted to build the school using a two-phased approach.
The price was scaled back from around $143 million to $130 million, which does not include funding for athletic facilities, including sports fields and concession stands.
Redistricting for Weathers Creek and Parkertown
The other piece to the puzzle is identifying the students who will attend Weathers Creek High School and the new Parkertown Elementary School.
The district has partnered with Western Piedmont Council of Governments and Centralina Regional Council to assist with the redistricting process for Weathers Creek and the new Parkertown Elementary School.
According to Shinkaruk, those groups will give the district three different ideas to present to the school board.
“They have geocoded into GIS all the building permits that are out there and look at all long-term growth, coupled with current school boundaries,” Shinkaruk explained.
District officials hope to see the first proposal of the new school boundaries at the end of July or early August.
Meanwhile, Shinkaruk said construction is in full swing, with significant progress visible.
“We’ve been very impressed and pleased with the work that Montieth has done for us. They have committed a sense of urgency to this project that has been observed every step of the way,” he told the board.